Level.



No. 645,058. Patented Mar. l3, moo.

.1. w. BECHTOL.

LEVEL.

(Application filed Mar. 7, 1898.) (No Model.)

r VIII/{I u n. c m: "cams PETERS co PHOYO-LITHQ. wAsmunw Y the opposite rail will TATES ATENT OFFICE.

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE OF SAME PLACE.

LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N 0. 645,058, dated March 13, 1900. Application filed March 7, 1898. Serial No. 673,008. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH WM. BECHTOL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the town of Three Rivers, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Levels or Inclinometers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in levels and inclinometers, and more particularly to a level adapted for use in laying railway-tracks, though the level is adapted for other purposes, as for the proper laying of elevator-spouts in mills and for the laying of drainage-tile. It is particularly adapted for use as a track-level.

As heretofore constructed track-levels for use in varying the height of the rails of a railway on the curves or switches have been provided with an adjustable part at one end or with a portion at one end cut in successive steps to secure the proper difference in the height of the rails. With levels of this kind it has been practically an impossibility to secure the mean level of the track, either one rail will be lowered the entire amount of the difference in the height of the rails direct or be raised the .whole amount of the difference, which, besides being accurate, also results in much confusion. My improved level is also adapted to testing a track afterit is laid, showing that the proper difference in height is secured for curves of a different degree.

The objects of this invention are to provide a simple and efficient level and inclinometer specially adapted for use in laying railwaytrack; second, to provide an improved level for track-laying which shall secure the proper difference in the height of the rails without varying their mean height; third, to provide an efficient and efiective inclinometer in which adjustable end pieces are dispensed with fourth, to provide an inclinometer with parts which can be adjusted to serve as a check to each other to avoid the possibility of mistakes. Further objects will definitely appear in the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish these objects by the devices and means described in this specification.

level F The invention is definitely pointed out in the claims.

The device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of the side, showing it as a level. Fig. 2 ,is an elevation of the opposite side of the device, showing it in use as an inclinometer for varying the height of the rails in a railway curve. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional elevation taken on line 3 3 of' Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan view of the central portion of the device. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View of the adjustable threaded measure G.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the lettered parts of. the drawings, 0 represents the main block of the level or inclinometer, the ends of which are preferably notched to serve as a track-gage and also to afford means of retaining the block on the track-rails. An ordinary spirit-level E is placed at the center of the top of the block for use in laying level track. Into one side of the block 0 is inserted the usual construction of spirit-level inclinometer D, wherein appear a pointer and scale for varying the incline. On the opposite side of the'main block 0 is secured an auxiliary level-block Which is pivoted on a bolt H, extending from the inside center of rotation of the inclinometer on the opposite side of the block.

The block F is provided with a level-tube F, of the usual construction, at the center. The ends of the block F are made pointed and point to suitable scales J J, marked on the side of the main block 0. This auxiliary block F is adjusted and secured in position by the thumb-nutH'. It will be observed that when the block F is turned to point to zero on the scales J J when the track is level the bubble will be in the center. By varying the position of the pointer on the scale J so that it points to the unit which indicates the difference in height at which the two rails of the track it is desired to test should be laid it will only be required when the main block 0 is placed on the rails that the bubble of the appears at the center. The units or degrees on the scale are preferably marked in inches and fractions thereof, so that it is very convenient to use.

On the under side of the block O, I insert a bolt G, which is adjustable by being screwthreaded and slightly flattened on one side and provided with a scale I, which can be marked to inches or any other units of measure required. In use the bolt G is adjusted .to rest on top of the surveyors stakes and insures the laying of the track at the proper grade. The auxiliary level F is then adj usted to point to the right figure or degree on the scales J J, according to the difference in grades desired for the two rails, and the track is laid so that the measure G rests or reaches the required point on the surveyors stake which is the desired grade for the track, and the bubble in the level F is at the center when both ends of the block 0 rest on the rails.

In the construction of railways on curves the rails are placed at different heights which are varied to correspond to the different degrees of curvature. The scale on the inclinometer D is marked in units or degrees to indicate the different degrees of curvature. The fact that the rails are laid with the proper difference in height, having been determined by the block F and while the inclinometer is still upon the track, the inclinometer D can be adjusted until its bubble comes to the level and the scale read. If this reads to the correct degree of curve, which is of course previously known, it is known that everything is correct. Otherwise some mistake has occurred and the matter will require investigation.

In this connection I desire to state that the block O, with the auxiliary block F, each bearing levels, may be used alone. The bolt G may also be omitted, in which case the proper grade will be determined by measuring from the center of the block 0 to the top of the surveyors stake. Also the block O without any level might be used in this connection with the block F with a level therein. Other variations will no doubt suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as'new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. In a track level or inclinometer the combination of the block 0, adapted to rest on the rails of a railroad-track and having a spiritlevel at the center and an inclinometer of the usual construction inserted on one side with the scale suitably marked; an auxiliary block F, pointed at each end having a spirit-level F thereon, and scales at each end thereof to show its adjustment; a suitable thumb-nut for adjusting the same and an adjustable bolt G, having a scale thereon below the center of the block 0, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of a main block O, and

a centrally-located adjustable measure on the under side thereof, and an auxiliary block pivoted to one side thereof havinga suitable pointer and scale to show its adjustment, and having a spirit-level at its center for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of a main block C, an auxiliary block F, with level therein; the block 0 having a suitable scale to indicate the adjustment of the level, an inclinometer on the opposite side of the block 0, suitable scale for the same, which inclinometer may be adjusted to indicate the degree of the curvature of the track for certain inclination of the railroad so that one shall check the other for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH WVM. BEOI-ITOL. [L. S.]

Witnesses:

M. J. HUss, E. H. HENDERSON. 

